As you may remember reading in my last update, I served as director of the older kid’s program in ANIJA this summer. This was one of my greatest challenges since being here in the D.R. I have never served in a leadership role like that and it ended up being one of those things that’s just harder and more work than you expected it to be. Never being the leader of a program, one thinks (hopefully it’s not just me) that besides making sure everything runs smoothly, which it probably will, and distributing the funds and doing a bit of planning, there really won’t be that much to do or that much that can go wrong. It’s a program that’s run every summer; so, I’ll just fill this need, doing what I’ve seen others do in the past, and all will be peachy. Then, reality happens.
People are needy and you’re the one who’s supposed to meet those needs. Things aren’t planned and you’re the one who’s supposed to plan them. There is no way you can please everyone, but you try to with the decision that is always yours to make. And with not anticipating these things that go along with being a leader, you can drive yourself crazy going into it. And this is where I found myself at the beginning of this summer, trying to "fill a need" with a naïve attitude and mindset, and not being as prepared as I could have been.
However, the Lord
is always faithful and after all was said and done, this was another one of His glorifying seasons in my
life here. He taught me life-altering, invaluable lessons about humility,
grace, and my own self-worth and sufficiency in Him. I've spent my whole life caring a lot about other's opinions of me, too much at times, putting a lot of my self-worth in what they think of me and my performance. This summer, I lied awake at night stressed out because of people's opinions of how I was running the summer program (most imagined I'm sure) and how much had gone wrong that day in my mind. This is the point where God really began to speak to me about who it was I was trying to please and whose opinion really mattered. As I’ve served on the
field here for almost two years now, and have found myself in positions I never
dreamed I’d be in, positions I wasn’t "prepared for”, I have seen my weaknesses
and shortcomings more magnified than ever. That’s also where I’ve seen God’s
grace and power magnified and where I’ve been humbled beyond belief, and I'm so thankful that He keeps bringing me to those points. My father is amazing in His goodness, and I'm grateful for all the personal challenges that this summer brought.
2013 Summer Highlights
·
One of the biggest highlights was that a service team from my home church, Holy
Trinity, came down! It was incredibly encouraging to me, and watching God move
throughout that week was awesome. Also, my brother Jason was on the team! :)
·
Leading 6th, 7th and 8th
grade in the ANIJA summer program each afternoon; we went to the pool, rode
horses, baked, painted nails, biked, and took a trip to the movie theatre!
·
I did my first Bible study in Spanish on the
book of Nehemias. It was a great experience and exciting when I could tell that the
kids understood me, and even more when they understood what God was telling
them through me! I love watching the Holy Spirit conquer language barriers.
·
In the mornings I spent my time at ANIJA as
well. I worked with the younger children on the sponsorship project that we’re
currently doing. Since summer program ended, I have been going around to the
children’s homes to work on the projects there as well. I always enjoy being
with them in their homes!
·
I was also more involved with service teams than ever before because of the
volume of sponsors who came down. One of my duties as sponsorship site
coordinator is to connect sponsors with their sponsor child when they are in
town. I had the privilege on going on visits with the sponsors to their child's
home almost weekly. Below is a picture of a child meeting her sponsors for the
first time.
·
There were a group of ten interns living and
working in Jarabacoa all summer. Although I didn’t get to know all of them
well, it was an encouragement to be around them and to feel their excitement to
serve God. I mentored one of the girls and that was a huge blessing.
What’s coming up
·
I just moved into a new house, which I really
like, so my new roommate and I are still getting acclimated and setting
everything up.
·
This semester, I’ll be working in the library
again, training an assistant, and working with sponsorship. I’ll also be
involved with the University program, mainly building relationships with the
ladies. I’m very excited about this.
·
I have a trip home planned from Aug. 31st
– Sept. 9th for a friend’s wedding. It will be a short trip, but I’m
hoping to many of you while there!
Please continue to lift me up in your prayers. I am approaching this
third year in a new, more organized way. Please pray I would maintain this new organization
in my life here, would take time to rest, and would continue to carry out the work
that God has put before me, and to know and remember what that is on a daily
basis. Pray for opportunities to build deep, lasting relationships with the university
girls and for the Bible study that we'll be doing in the fall. Also for continued involvement in my church here, that God would continue to use and grow me there as well.
I am beyond grateful for your on-going support toward God’s mission here in the D.R. May the children know His light and salvation!
I am beyond grateful for your on-going support toward God’s mission here in the D.R. May the children know His light and salvation!
Jesus said, " Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
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